Yorkshire and Humberside

There are almost 5,200 employers in the lifelong learning sector in Yorkshire and the Humber, including:

- 39 further education colleges, including general further education colleges, specialist colleges and 6th form colleges
- 10 higher education institutions, plus the Open University
- approximately 4,900 community learning and development providers, including adult and community learning, community development, community education, development education, family learning, working with parents and youth work
- approximately 50 libraries and archives services
- over 120 Learning and Skills Council-funded work-based learning providers, plus other privately funded and voluntary organisations

81% of lifelong learning employers in the region employ less than 10 staff, which is in line with the sector throughout the rest of England and the UK.

The sector in Yorkshire and the Humber accounts for a total output (at basic prices) of over £1.1 billion. The Gross Value Added for the sector in Yorkshire and the Humber is over £380 million.

Workforce statistics:

Approximately 95,000 people work in the lifelong learning sector in Yorkshire and the Humber. This is around 11% of the lifelong learning workforce in England.

49% of the workforce is aged between 45-64 years.

62% of the workforce is female.

69% of the lifelong learning workforce in Yorkshire and the Humber are employed full-time.

50% of the workforce is employed in professional roles such as teachers, lecturers, librarians and youth workers. 14% are in associate professional roles such as youth support workers, learning support staff, technical specialists and library assistants.

Qualification profile of workforce:

67% of the workforce is qualified to the equivalent of NVQ level 4 or above.

In further education, 57% of teaching staff in Yorkshire and the Humber’s colleges are qualified to first degree level equivalent or above.

In higher education, 84% of academic staff in higher education in Yorkshire and the Humber are qualified to first degree level equivalent or above.

In the archives workforce, the most common qualification held by archivists and records managers in Yorkshire and the Humber is a higher degree or equivalent.

Employment trends and future projections

Despite forecasts of declining workforce numbers for some occupational groups, overall demand in the lifelong learning sector in Yorkshire and the Humber is expected to increase by approximately 3%.

It is estimated that around 62,000 people will need to be recruited into the lifelong learning sector in Yorkshire and the Humber over the next ten years, to fill vacancies largely created by existing staff going into retirement.

Source: The lifelong learning workforce in Yorkshire and the Humber Factsheet 2009